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Nestled under steep, dramatic hills between Napier and Wairoa is Tūtira Regional Park, bordering twin lakes – Tūtira and Waikopirō. Tūtira Regional Park is an idyllic place to have a picnic or pitch a tent. Hike the walkway or see how many bird species you can count.
Due to the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, we continue to carry out essential repairs to our regional parks. Please take care when visiting. Tutira Regional Park remians closed for the foreseeable future due to access on SH2.
Those sections of the Tūtira Walkway in and near the Tūtira Regional Park pine forest will be closed to the public again this summer for logging. The period of closure will run from approximately 15 November 2022 to 30 June 2023. Access to these areas over this time is an offence under the Walking Access Act (2008). Enquiries can be directed to 027 706 7455.
The park has an important function as a land use demonstration area. Many of the trees were planted by school students, community groups, organisations, and the Regional Council staff volunteers.
It is also a recreation space and a handy base to explore Tūtira-Maungaharuru district's many adventure and recreation opportunities. This park is not suitable for dogs.
Across the lake is the historic Guthrie-Smith Trust homestead, education centre and an arboretum of 20,000 trees.
Tūtira Regional Park is part of a developing tourism area of the Tūtira-Maungahururu district, which local people are promoting as a great adventure recreation area. From here you can explore:
Explore Tūtira Regional Park in full 360 degrees here (courtesy of Tim Whittaker Photographer)
We are working with the Maungaharuru Tangitū Trust, landowners and the local community to restore and protect the lake.
Tūtira can suffer from toxic algal blooms, and the lake is not suitable for swimming when blooms occur. Cercarial dermatitis, usually known as ‘swimmers itch’ or ‘duck itch', has been reported from the lake. Research indicates the risk is highest when swimming in warm shallow water, and that using sunscreen containing phenoxyethanol will help repel the organism responsible for the rash. Signs posted around the lake provide information on swimming risks.
Download this great guide about all of our parks including Tūtira, with directions on how to get to them and lots handy information.
Off State Highway 2, 41km north of Napier and 77 km south of Wairoa. Access is through the gates, through the DOC wildlife reserve, across the causeway between the two lakes and follow the track until the signposted gate entrance to the park. Camping entry to the right. Tūtira is on the Napier-Wairoa Heritage Trail.
Note:
Short-term camping only is available within the park in a flat, fenced and tree-lined paddock area that is suitable for tents, campervans, caravans. Compost toilets and cold water taps only (no kitchen or showers). Tūtira Store a few kilometres north on SH2 has supplies. Please take away your own rubbish. Cost to camp is $5 per vehicle per night to help with operating costs for the toilet blocks and water supply. Use the form below to book your camping.
camping fees online payment
Water quality monitoring buoy - the Regional Council and NIWA have a monitoring buoy on Lake Tutira above one of the deeper parts (42m) for a long term study of the lake. The buoy measures dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, water temperature and turbidity.
Algal blooms - Data from the buoy also helps the Regional Council scientists investigation the causes of algal blooms which regularly impact the lake in summer. Algae is naturally present in fresh water but in warmer conditions there can be a population explosion which turns the lake water green and produces an odour. The Regional Council is working with the lake bed owner, Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust, and other organisations to find solutions to the algal bloom problem. Other brown blooms are caused by microscopic animals called dinoflagellates, which are harmless. In nearby Lake Waikopirō, the Regional Council is trialling an aerator to bubble oxygen through the water and mix the water layers to reduce algal blooms.
Hydrilla Eradication - A long term programme (Ministry of Primary Industries funded) aims to eradicate the plant pest Hydrilla from the lake by using grass carp to forage the plant. The plant is now almost gone from the lake, and native milfoils are returning.
Erosion control & forestry - An erosion control and sustainable land management programme is in place in the park,managed by the Regional Council. Many of the trees in the park have been planted by community groups, school groups and the Regional Council staff volunteers. Since 2012 a mānuka block has been planted in partnership with Comvita NZ Ltd to assess the viability of producing valuable UMF mānuka honey as a sustainable land use on steep east coast hill country. Farmers and beekeepers are welcome to contact the Regional Council's land management team to arrange to view the plantation and learn about progress.
Find out more about the history of the park in this book - A Short History of Tūtira Country Park by Garth Eyles, 2014. Hard copies of this book are available at the Regional Council or you can order here.
+64 6 835 9200
159 Dalton Street. Napier 4110
Private Bag 6006, Napier 4142
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